NL roundup: Burnett leads Pirates past Dodgers

PITTSBURGH — Garrett Jones hit two three-run homers, A.J. Burnett became the first Pirates pitcher with 15 wins in 13 years, and Pittsburgh avoided a four-game sweep with a 10-6 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

Jones had a career-high six RBIs, and Pedro Alvarez also homered for the Pirates, who had lost six of seven.

The Dodgers, who lead the NL West by a half-game over San Francisco, had a four-game winning streak snapped. James Loney and Hanley Ramirez homered for Los Angeles.

Dodgers slugger Matt Kemp and manager Don Mattingly were ejected during the top of the second inning, setting off a lengthy argument that was mostly directed at home plate umpire Angel Campos.

Los Angeles starter Joe Blanton later ran toward Campos as he was walking off the field after being removed following Alvarez’s homer. Ramirez also drew Campos’ ire for throwing his bat down in disgust after striking out in the sixth.

The Pirates avoided a season sweep by the Dodgers, who had beaten them nine straight times, dating to last year. The Dodgers were looking for their first four-game sweep in Pittsburgh in 63 years.

Alvarez hit his 22nd home as part of a 3-for-4 day. Clint Barmes added three RBIs for the Pirates, who entered the day tied with St. Louis for the NL’s second wild card spot.

Jordy Mercer and Andrew McCutchen were on base both times Jones homered, in the first and fifth innings. The second shot to right elicited a curtain call for Jones, who has 20 home runs this season and five career two-homer games.

Burnett (15-4) allowed six runs, seven hits, and a walk, and he two hit batsmen, but he was good enough to become the first Pirates pitcher to win 15 games since Todd Ritchie in 1999.

Burnett had seven strikeouts and bounced back from his first home loss of the season on Saturday.

Burnett, who called a players meeting before Wednesday’s game, was most angry after the Dodgers took their only lead in the fourth when Ramirez hit a two-run homer.

As Ramirez rounded second base during his home-run trot, he circled his eyes with his fingers as he turned in the direction of Burnett. The gesture is a trademark of Ramirez’s.

When Ramirez struck out swinging to end the sixth, Burnett screamed at him as he walked off the mound. Ramirez was reprimanded by Campos for throwing his bat, and the two had a somewhat-heated discussion.

■ Mets 8, Reds 4

CINCINNATI — Rookie Matt Harvey drove in one more run than he allowed in the longest outing of his short major league career, and New York snapped Cincinnati’s five-game winning streak.

Harvey (2-3), who had lost three straight starts after winning in his major league debut, allowed one run and four hits in 7 2-3 innings. He struck out eight, walked one and hit a batter. Harvey doubled in two runs in New York’s three-run fourth inning.

Ike Davis and Jason Bay hit solo home runs for the Mets, who capitalized on three errors and avoided a three-game sweep.

■ Braves 6, Padres 0

ATLANTA — Chipper Jones homered twice on a night when a big crowd turned out to get his bobblehead, and Atlanta won its 15th straight game with Kris Medlen as a starter.

Seizing the moment before a weeknight turnout of 33,157 — more than the previous two nights combined — Jones hit a two-run homer in the first, then added a towering solo shot over the wall in center field in the fifth.

For the 40-year-old Jones, who is retiring after this season, it was his first multihomer game in more than three years and gave him 12 homers in what is turning out to be quite a farewell season. He raised his team-leading average to .315. He came out of the dugout for a curtain call after both drives, the second of which was his 2,700th career hit.

■ Brewers 7, Phillies 4

MILWAUKEE — Corey Hart’s grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning led Milwaukee and prevented Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee from getting a rare win.

Livan Hernandez (4-1) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory. Jim Henderson recorded the final two outs for his third save in four chances, getting Erik Kratz to ground out with the bases loaded to end the game.

Lee allowed two solo home runs by Ryan Braun and a solo homer by Aramis Ramirez. With two outs in the eighth and no runners on, Lee got Rickie Weeks to ground to third, but Kevin Frandsen made an errant throw for a two-base error. Josh Lindblom (2-3) replaced Lee and intentionally walked Braun, and then Ramirez walked to load the bases. Hart hit a 2-2 pitch just over the wall in right.